Forestview puts an end to Mountaineer hopes

GASTONIA – Forestview’s powerful offense and Kings Mountain’s banged-up defense was the perfect recipe for a fast, quick and efficient win for the home team Friday night.

Forestview took full advantage in a 49-20 victory that leaves the Jaguars 7-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big South 3A Conference. The Jaguars will be a wild card in the N.C. Class 3A playoffs and now await Saturday’s playoff pairings.

Kings Mountain’s season ends at 3-8, 1-5.

The host Jaguars scored on four of their first eight plays of the game and rolled up a 39-14 halftime advantage before cruising to the victory.

“I’m proud of our kids for doing what they had to do,” said Forestview coach Chris Medlin, whose team enters the playoffs on a two-game winning streak.

“We’re just so depleted, we just couldn’t keep up with them speed-wise at all,” said Kings Mountain coach Greg Lloyd, whose team has lost 12 players – including eight defensive starters – during the season due to injury, suspension and dismissal. “And they’re very good regardless of if we were at full strength. They did a good job and they’ve got a fine football team.”

Forestview’s Ford ran for 76 yards on the Jaguars’ second offensive play of the game to take a 6-0 lead less than two minutes into the contest.